Nearly 200 people were arrested in Indonesia over raging forest fires

JAKARTA: As toxic haze sends air quality levels plummeting and sparks
flight cancellations, police arrested nearly 200 people in Indonesia who were
responsible for vast forest fires ripping across the archipelago.

Thousands of personnel have been deployed in Jakarta to battle blazes
that are turning land into charred landscapes and consuming forests in Sumatra
and Borneo Islands where thousands of schools have been ordered to shut over
health fears.

The fires that was usually caused by illegal burning to clear land for
farming have unleashed choking haze across Southeast Asia. This unhealthy level
of haze have triggered diplomatic tensions with Indonesia’s neighbours.

Authorities on Monday said, they had arrested some 185 people suspected
of being involved in activities that led to out-of-control fires sweeping the
country.

“Indonesian Police will enforce
the law against anyone who is proven to have carried out forest and land
burning, whether it was done intentionally or through negligence,” National
Police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said.

“This is a last resort. The most important thing is prevention.”
Four corporations were also being investigated, he
added.